smile . . .

. . . it's friday!

stumbled into this pic going through family archives.

i don't know how this image managed to slip through the cracks,

but it made my day. how can you not smile looking at that cute face:)

mitch: "mom, that looks like a grandpa"

happy friday. happy spring. happy day.

farewell

Aspen 1996-2011

Our sweet kitty died this last Saturday. She has been with us for 15 years! She was a birthday gift to me on my first birthday two weeks after we were married. She has been there through every move, six new babies, lots of learning, and a whole lot of living. She will be missed around here.

Carter was mowing the lawn on Saturday and discovered Aspen in the grass. It looks as if she was walking along and just fell over dead. She looked perfect . . . no wounds or anything. We knew her days were limited, but I expected her to get sick and slowly decline. Even though this came sudden and unexpected, I am glad we didn't have to make any decisions regarding her life.

For Family Home Evening last night, we had a little funeral for our faithful friend. After dinner the site was chosen, the hole was dug, and we laid our kitty to rest.

Changes are hard. What a gift this little life has been to our family. And now, we move on with her memory and spunky personality always in our hearts.

After the burial, we all shared stories and memories of Aspen. It was a sweet bonding time for our family. I prepared a little slideshow to share with my kids. It may seem silly, but it was fun for me to look back through the years and be reminded of all the life we have lived. Time sure does fly by! We are all so blessed.

window to the soul

The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore,

thine eye be single, thy whole

body shall be full of light.

3 Nephi 13:22

the strongest generation

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an

example of the believers, in word, in conversation,

in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 TIMOTHY 4:12

"I have tremendous confidence in the young people of this Church.

I love you. I believe in you.

I have every confidence that you are going to do the right thing;

that you are going to make a go of life;

that you are going to make a contribution to society;

that you are going to live the kind of lives that are productive

and produce wonderful results.

Notwithstanding all of the temptations that you face,

I believe that you are the greatest generation we have ever had in this Church."

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy

heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth.

ECCLESIASTES 11:9

"Let us from this day forward be a little better,

love one another a little more,

treat one another with greater kindness,

and look to God and live."

Pesident Gordon B. Hinckley

15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

a mother's mite

The Widow's Mite

James C. Christensen

"And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, . . . and he saith unto them, . . . this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had . . ."

Mark 12:42-44

The Mother's Mite pendant is a symbol of selflessness and generosity. It is a constant reminder that you aspire to give your all. From humble beginnings, both the mite and the pearl represent the best within us.

Let your best be enough!

quite contrary

earlier this week my friend audrey and i got together to take pictures of lydia for her "one year" photo shoot. as you can see, lydi did not want a thing to do with us. audrey is the master at making kids smile and lydia couldn't have been more uncooperative!! it was such a huge help to have an extra pair of hands and boy did she have us working hard!

every time she got put on something she couldn't get off of she would get so ticked!

look at those teeth just waiting to bust through!

we did end up getting a couple somber shots. i am partial to these types of pictures.

one super smiley of 200+ pictures taken!

i could just smother that little face with kisses!

my little doll.

thanks again audrey for all your help!! we need to get together again soon . . . if you dare;)

sister visits

Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister.

~Katherine Mansfield

For Christmas this year Doug arranged to have my sister come visit for several days in March. She came Tuesday and stayed until Saturday of last week. I was so looking forward to her visit and am so appreciative that she would make the trip. She has a houseful of little boys at home and I know it is a lot of work to arrange your family and get things in order so you can leave.

We had so much fun together: shopping, eating out, movies (we have the "fever":), working out, staying up late, visiting, laughing, and catching up with each other's lives. Katie and her family have lived in Chicago for the past seven years, so visits are few and getting together is a real treat. It was so much fun to look forward to her visit the past month and a half . . . it came and went so fast! Thanks Katie, for making the trip. I miss you already!!

party

can this little miss be a year old already?? what a fun birthday girl she was. she has had a rough month with sickness. i am so glad she was feeling well for her birthday, although i can't say the same for all her siblings. this is lydi's first go around with the "birthday hat"

this little doll was given to lydia from her grammy. i wish my mom could have been

here to see how darling she was when she opened it.

"happy birthday dear lydia"

can you tell who isn't feeling well??

a perfectly special day.

one

Once in a young lifetime

one should be allowed to have

as much sweetness as one

can possibly want and hold.

-judith olney

Standing for Truth and Righteousness

Young Women

Personal Progress

STANDING AS A WITNESS OF GOD

WE ARE DAUGHTERS of our Heavenly Father,

who loves us, and we love Him.

WE WILL "STAND as witnesses of God at all times

and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9)

as we strive to live the Young Women Values, which are:

FAITH . DIVINE NATURE

INDIVIDUAL WORTH . KNOWLEDGE

CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

GOOD WORKS . INTEGRITY

AND VIRTUE

WE BELIEVE as we come to accept and act

upon these values, WE WILL BE PREPARED

to strengthen home and family,

make and keep sacred covenants, receive

the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy

the blessings of exaltation.

The Personal Progress program uses the eight Young Women values to help you understand more fully who your are, why you are here on the earth, and what you should be doing as a daughter of God to prepare for the day you go to the temple to make sacred covenants. It will help you prepare for your future roles as a faithful woman, wife, mother, and leader in God's kingdom.

To complete the Personal Progress program and earn the medallion you are to complete the required experiences in each value and in addition, a 10 hour (minimum) value project for each of the eight values.

Abi was recognized in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday for completing the Personal Progress program. We are so proud of Abi and this accomplishment. The best part about it, is she did it on her own! There were a few things we did as a family and skills she learned from others, but it was her own dedication and diligence in getting her goals and requirements met.

We celebrated with a dinner of her choice for family night on Monday. She chose a steak dinner . . . her Dad makes the BEST steaks!

Here is what she chose to do for her 10 hour value projects:

Faith: Think of Faith as a seed and plant and harvest a vegetable garden. Working alongside her Dad, she prepared the ground, helped plant the garden, weeded, watered, and harvested throughout the summer.

Divine Nature: Make and tie a quilt

Individual Worth: Learned how to knit (taught by her Grammy) made a head band.

Knowledge: Work with my Mom on a homemaking skill she will teach me. Made a recipe box. Learned to make several meals. Added "favorites" to recipe box.

Choice and Accountability: Study "For the Strength of Youth" personally and with the family.

Good Works: Visit and do some activities with the ladies at the assisted living center every Friday.

Integrity: Stay after school and help a teacher grade papers. Be honest and correct them wisely

Virtue: Read the Book of Mormon and record my testimony.

"Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations"

(D&C 115:5)

Congratulations Abigail. What an awesome accomplishment!

Braces off!!

Abigail got her braces off on January 19th!! She was so excited, it was like Christmas all over again.

When we arrived at the Orthodontist office they teased her by saying they didn't have her scheduled for an appointment. She got a little worried and they asked her what they were seeing her for . . . "I'm getting my braces off today" she said:)

We have just loved everyone over at the office . . . Abi said to me later, "Mom, they are really going to miss me over there"

But not to worry, she will still be visiting often for retainer checks:)

Doesn't she have a beautiful smile . . .

"WOW"